Student Organization Fair. The annual Student Organization Fair will be held on Tuesday, August 29, from 11:30-1:30 (for day students) and from 4:00-6:00 (for evening students) in the second and third floor atriums. All students are invited. (Please note: The initial announcement incorrectly listed the evening version as 4:30-6:30pm.)

Legal Writing Ethics Guidelines. This is a reminder that the Chicago-Kent Legal Writing Ethics Guidelines apply to all Chicago-Kent students and all courses, including students enrolled in first-year and upper-level writing courses (Legal Writing 1, Legal Writing 2, Legal Writing 3, Legal Writing 4, and all seminars). The Guidelines, which address a variety of issues, including plagiarism, are available by clicking here. If you have not reviewed the Guidelines recently, please do so.

Academic Resource Library. The Office of Student Services maintains a resource library of study aids and other materials for first year classes and for many upper-level classes. Students can borrow materials for up to two weeks. This is a great way to preview a study aid before you buy it or do a quick review for a class. If you are interested in borrowing a book or flashcards, please see Jenna Abhijeet in Room 310A. Click here for a list of Subject areas and Book titles.

Student Health Insurance. You can find information about student health insurance at http://web.iit.edu/shwc/insurance. All students registered for at least one credit hour in the Fall semester (including intersession classes listed on the Fall schedule; but not including Incomplete make-ups) will automatically be billed for student health insurance. This applies to both Day and Evening Division students. The cost for the 2017-2018 academic year will be $1,441 for individual coverage (please contact the Student Health and Wellness Center at 312/567-7550 for information about family coverage). You may waive insurance coverage if you have comparable coverage by filing a waiver form at http://web.iit.edu/shwc/insurance; the deadline for waiving coverage is September 1. IIT requires students who waive the student health insurance to do so every year. The waiver process goes directly through Aetna Student Health Insurance. (Please note: If you are on an F1 or J1 visa, you will not be permitted to waive the IIT health insurance.) If you do not waive coverage by September 1, you will be billed for the insurance. For more information about the plan, including waivers, go to http://web.iit.edu/shwc/insurance or call the Student Health and Wellness Center at 312/567-7550.

The health insurance coverage runs from August 12, 2017 to August 11, 2018. You may print your insurance card here. Aetna Student Health has an app that will allow you to have your insurance card and benefit details on your smart device. To access the app, follow the instructions below. Insurance cards will not be mailed out unless a request is made by calling 800-841-3140. (If you have any questions about the app, contact the Student Health and Wellness Center at 312-567-7550 or student.health@iit.edu.)

Reminder About IIT Policy on Firearms and Weapons on Campus. (From the IIT General Counsel's Office:) In general, carrying or bringing any type of firearm or other weapon in, on or to the campus or property of IIT is expressly prohibited. This prohibition applies even if you have all of the requisite permits to carry the firearm or weapon, including a concealed carry permit. The policy expressly defines “firearm,” “weapon,” “campus” and “property of IIT.” The policy does contain a very limited number of narrowly tailored exceptions, such as allowing ROTC to utilize firearms for training and permitting personnel of the Department of Public Safety and on duty police officers to carry firearms.
The link to the full policy is provided below and everyone should familiarize themselves with it, as the policy will be strictly enforced: Concealed Carry and Prohibition Regarding Firearms and Weapons On Campus Policy.

Reminder About IIT's Political Activity Policy. (From the IIT General Counsel's Office:) As a tax-exempt entity, IIT is prohibited from directly or indirectly participating or intervening in any campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for elective office, and IIT has an obligation to refrain from engaging in any partisan political activity. Violation of these prohibitions against such activities could jeopardize the university’s tax-exempt status.

While individuals are free to express their opinions and to support political candidates on their own, it must be clear that the individual is acting on his or her own behalf and not on behalf of IIT. No one should identify himself or herself as an employee of IIT when supporting a candidate. If, when speaking or writing on behalf of a candidate someone is identified as an IIT faculty member or other employee, that individual should indicate prior to any speech or as part of any writing that the comments are personal and not intended to represent the views of IIT. Further, no individual or event may use the name, symbols or resources of the university in any way in connection with any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for political office.

Specific examples of impermissible activities include, but are not limited to (i) using university letterhead, campus mail, telephones or email accounts to solicit support or contributions for a candidate; (ii) using university funds to purchase tickets for a candidate’s fund-raiser; and (iii) putting campaign posters on university property.

Political candidates may use or rent IIT facilities only if all candidates are allowed the opportunity to use or rent such facilities on equal terms and conditions.

Subject to certain conditions and restrictions, political candidates may be invited to speak at events without jeopardizing IIT's tax-exempt status; however, no invitation for such an event should be extended without the extending party first discussing the proposed activity with the General Counsel"s Office to ensure that it complies with applicable laws.

Certain voter education activities, including voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, are permissible but only if they are undertaken in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and are conducted in a non-partisan manner. Again, before any such activities are undertaken, the initiating party should contact the General Counsel’s Office.

Any questions about this policy should be directed to Anthony D. D’Amato, General Counsel, at 312.567.8821.

FERPA Rights and Notification of Access to Education Records. The Student Handbook outlines student rights and responsibitilies regarding access to educational records. Please review sections 14.4 and 14.5, which are available by clicking here. Please pay particular attention to section 14.5, which lists the types of information that Chicago-Kent classifies as "directory information" (which Chicago-Kent may release at its discretion) and the information published in the online Student Directory (available only to members of the Chicago-Kent community). Section 14.5 also explains how you may request that directory information, including the information published in the Student Directory, not be published or released.Disability Resources.Chicago-Kent College of Law provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in law school activities, programs, and services. Individuals with disabilities requiring an accommodation to participate in an activity, program or service (for example, exam accommodations or classroom accommodations) should contact Jenna Abhijeet, Chicago-Kent's Director of Academic Administration and Student Affairs, at (312) 906-5005 or jabhijeet@kentlaw.iit.edu, or stop by office 310A.

Counseling Services. IIT's Student Health and Wellness Center provides counseling services at the Law School by appointment. To schedule an appointment, call (312) 567-7550. There is no charge for these counseling services.

Academic Counseling. I am available for counseling about course selection, certificate programs, bar preparation, academic rules and regulations, and other academic matters. If you are interested in a particular area of law, I can also arrange for you to meet with a faculty member who specializes in that area. You may contact me by email (ssowle@kentlaw.iit.edu), by phone at (312) 906-5282, or by stopping by my office (320C).

Lawyers Assistance Program: Office Hours at Chicago-Kent and Other Services. The Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP) will be holding Fall office hours at Chicago-Kent on the dates listed below. LAP provides free and confidential assistance to members of the Illinois legal community, including students, and can help you with issues of addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, focusing, worries about the character and fitness process, and having a successful first-year transition. Click here for more information about LAP and the services it provides.

All office hours are from 10:00-2:00 in Rm. 760. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can make an appointment by emailing Jamie Dureno at jdureno@illinoislap.org.

All discussion is confidential, and there is no record of your visit. The LAP clinician will also have literature and resources on hand to address many ethical or bar application related questions. No member of the Chicago-Kent administration is involved, ensuring absolute confidentiality.

If you are already in recovery, there are regular A.A. meetings at LAP's Chicago office and a weekly meeting of the Young Professional and Law Student Support Group. LAP's offices are located at 20 S. Clark Street, Suite 450 (if you have previously visited LAP's office, please note that this is a new Suite number). Call or email the LAP office for more information about these meetings (312-726-6607 or gethelp@illinoislap.org).

UIC Urban Forum. The University of Illinos Chicago invites Chicago-Kent students to its Urban Forum, titled "The Infrastructure of Work and Play," on Thursday, September 14, 2017. Click here for more information.

Joke of the Week. Why is the
alphabet in that order -- is it because of that song?

To Entering Students:

Bar Exam and Character & Fitness Requirements. First-year students should familiarize themselves with the bar exam and character & fitness requirements of the state in which they anticipate taking the bar exam. For Illinois, this information is availalbe on the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar website.

Academic Support Program. You received information during Orientation about the Academic Support Program (ASP), which is designed to assist first-year J.D. students in developing the skills needed to succeed in law school. Information about the program and study resources is available on the ASP web site.

ASP Workshop: Preparing For and Getting the Most Out of Class. The Academic Support Program's first workshop of the semester will address how to prepare for class effectively and how to get the most out of your classes. The program for day students will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 12:00-1:00 (Auditorium). The program for evening students will be held on Wednesday, September 6, 7:35-8:25 (Rm. 510). All students are invited to attend, but first-year students are particularly encouraged to attend. (Note: If you started this Summer in Dean Sowle's Criminal Law class, you have already had this and the remaining workshops, but are welcome to attend again if you wish.) For more information about the Academic Support Program, visit the ASP web site.

ID and U-Pass Distribution.If you have not picked up your ID card or U-Pass, you may do so in the Registrar's Office on the second floor.

About the U-Pass Program: The U-Pass is a discount fare card allowing unlimited rides on all CTA buses and trains. All full-time day students will receive a Ventra U-Pass card valid from August 21 (the first day of classes) through December 15 (the end of Fall exams). You will keep your Ventra card until you graduate. The Ventra cards require activation; instructions will be provided when you pick up your card. You will also be able to use the card during breaks from school by adding money to the card.

The charge for the card will appear on the semester bill for each full-time student. Due to restrictions imposed by the CTA, the program is not currently available to evening students or part-time day students. For more details, visit the CTA's U-Pass web site.

Note to International LL.M. students and visiting students: You qualify for a U-Pass if you are registered for at least 12 credit hours for the Fall semester. If you are reigstered for fewer than 12 credit hours, you do not qualify for a U-Pass.

Immunization Records. If you have not yet supplied your immunization records to IIT, please do so as soon as possible. You may have a hold placed on your registration if you do not submit the proper documentation. To Returning Students:

Applications for Graduation. J.D. students who plan on graduating at the end of theFall semester must submit an online Application for Graduation form no later than Friday, September 1, 2017. To complete the form, go to Web for Students at https://wfs.kentlaw.iit.edu and click on "Application for Graduation" under "Online Forms" in the lefthand menu. Please complete every field in the form, and click Submit when done. You will receive a confirmation e-mail once a graduation audit has been performed. Please note that any changes you make to your schedule after the audit may affect your graduation requirements. You should check with the Registrar's Office prior to making any changes. Also note that, although the Registrar's Office does conduct graduation audits on all applications, it is your responsibility to make certain all requirements for graduation are met. If you have any questions, please stop by the Registrar's office.

Adding and Dropping Courses. You may add an open course without special permission until the end of the first week of classes. During the second week, however, you may add an open course only with permission of the instructor. You may not add a course after Friday, September 1, 2017, at 11:50pm (the end of the add/drop period).

You may withdraw from any course except a required course, a clinical course, Law Review, Moot Court, or Intensive Trial Advocacy at any time prior to the date of the final exam or final paper (see § 3.10(c) of the Student Handbook). There is no tuition penalty if you drop a course by the add/drop deadline of Friday, September 1, 2017, at 11:50pm. You will not receive a tuition refund, however, if you drop a course after that date.Pass/Fail Elections. Pass/fail elections for the Fall semester must be made online no later than Friday, September 1, 2017. Please review § 2.4 of the Student Handbook if you have any questions regarding your pass/fail elections. In order to make your election, you should:

The Registrar's Office will review your request and inform you if there is any problem with your request.

Full-Time Students Taking Fewer Than 12 Credits. Students graduating at the end of the Fall 2017 semester who need fewer than the minimum number of hours to graduate may take fewer credits without special permission. If you take fewer than 12 credits hours, please contact the Registrar, Jerry Seaton, so he can make sure you are still coded as full-time in the registration system.

Tuition Discount for Graduating Students Taking More than 87 Credits. If you will be graduating at the end of the Fall 2017 semester, and you will be taking more than the 87 credits required to graduate, you may receive a 50% discount on each credit you take over the required 87 credits. If this affects you, please contact me by email no later than Friday, September 1, 2017, and I will arrange for the credit to be applied to your account. Please note: Financial aid is not available for any courses you take that are not necessary for you to reach the required 87 credits.

ADR Team Tryouts. The ADR Team is looking to add several new members to the team this year. It is a great forum for students to learn and participate in client representation in a fun and competitive setting. Tryouts will be held from 6:00-9:00pm on August 28, August 29, August 30, and August 31.
Each tryout will last approximately 15-30 minutes. Additional dates will be added if necessary. Please email kentadrteam@gmail.com to schedule a tryout.

February 2018 and July 2018 Illinois Bar Applications. Applications for the February 2018 bar exam are due by September 15, 2017 (see below for the late filing deadlines). Applications for the July 2018 bar exam are due by February 15, 2018. You may file a late application for the February bar up to December 15, and for the July bar up to May 15, but penalty fees apply. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site: https://www.ilbaradmissions.org. Please note: Even if you registered with the bar examiners as a first-year student, you must still file a final application. If you have any questions about the application materials, you may call the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar at 217/522-5917.

All information you disclose on the bar application should be consistent with answers to questions on your Application for Admission to the law school. Please note, however, that the bar application asks for a considerable amount of information that you were not asked to provide on our Application for Admission. You only need to be concerned about the consistency of your answers for questions asked on both forms. You can amend your Application for Admission, if necessary, by addressing a letter to me setting forth the details of the omission or misrepresentation and the reason for it.

Dean's Certificate: The law school sends a “Certificate of Dean of Law School Proof of Legal Education” to the Illinois bar examiners for every student who graduates in December or May. Please be sure to file an Application for Graduation at the beginning of your last semester so we will know you plan to graduate at the end of that semester. Important note: We will not certify any student to the bar examiners if the student has an outstanding balance owed to the school.

Bar Exams in Other States. Students who may practice in another state should familiarize themselves with those states' bar admission requirements, registration procedures, and deadlines. In particular, if you may take the New York bar exam, you should familiarize yourself with the coursework, pro bono, and other requirements described on the New York bar website.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). The MPRE is required for admission to the bars of most jurisdictions, including Illinois. The exam is administered in March or April, August, and November each year. The next exam will be given on Saturday, November 4, 2017. You may register online by clicking here. The deadline for applying for the November exam is September 14 (the late deadline, with a higher cost, is September 21). Students planning on taking the Illinois bar exam may take the MPRE at any time during or after law school.